Direct view LED vs. traditional LCD video wall: Which is best for your venue?

When Dara AV first rolls onto a job site to provide an estimate for a new video system, we want to find ways to create the most impact. No two venues are the same and we spec unique systems to help your space stand out. The right visual experience contributes to the entire vibe of a store, restaurant, gastro pub, or hotel. And New Yorkers know that vibe means everything when it comes to attracting customers and building a loyal base of regulars.

But we also understand that video displays are just one aspect of building or renovating a venue. And our clients often have strict budgets. Whether you’re a start-up restauranteur or a project manager for one of the tri-state area’s largest malls, you want to get the most bang for your buck while creating a memorable experience.

For that reason, we’ve been turning to direct view LEDs for commercial applications, including some of the region’s best entertainment destinations, across New York and New Jersey.

Why Dara AV Loves Direct View LEDs for our Clients

By specifying direct view LEDs, we can save our clients money and add more screens to a space, where appropriate. Easy for professionals to install, a great picture in any lighting conditions and at any viewing angle, direct view LEDs have become our go-to display solution for clients who want the best quality and don’t want to blow their budget on a single display.

Best of all, since direct view LEDs are growing in popularity, you can future proof your system and still save money. You won’t need to replace your displays in a few years when the next “big” thing comes along.

At Dara AV, we believe in the longevity of our systems. Our clients still have LCD displays and sound systems from a decade ago running strong and reliably in sports bars across the Jersey Shore. The owners may decide to refresh and renovate their systems in the near future, but they don’t need to. They are still serving the purpose and attracting people.

It’s the same with today’s direct view LEDs. We expect this equipment to operate solidly for years. 

With the money our clients save, they can add more screens, LED lighting, a better sound system, or remote monitoring and management. Or they can put that money toward other aspects as they prepare for their grand opening. We just don’t believe in people paying more than necessary to create an impressive video system.

A Brief History of Display Solutions

Back in the day, you had two choices for large scale video displays in a restaurant, sports bar or retail establishment: a projection system or video wall. Before the first video wall tiles were introduced, anyone who wanted affordable, extra-large displays had to settle for a projection system.

Projection Systems: Not Designed for High Ambient Light

Projectors work well in spaces with low ambient light or where you want to create a certain atmosphere. They don’t work as well in high-ambient light conditions, such as the wall of a large, well-lit shopping mall or a convention center. They don’t immediately draw your eye with bright colors and sharp pictures. Projection screens provide a certain look and it’s not always what you want if you aren’t in a movie theater setting.

LED-backlit LCDs: Not Large Enough for Every Application

LED-backlit LCD (liquid crystal display) screens have been a staple display technology in homes and public spaces for decades. When they first came out, though, even a smaller screen size costs thousands of dollars. Even top manufacturers like Samsung, Sony and LG didn’t make 90-inch or 110-inch screens back when LCD screens first came on the scene. Even a 75-inch LCD display would have cost too much to install in a commercial space requiring dozens of monitors.

Video Wall Solutions: Bezel Widths Make a Difference

When the first tiled video walls came out, they allowed integrators to configure a collection of modular LCDs to create a larger display than any single LED-backlit LCD could provide, with higher quality in high ambient lighting conditions. These LCD video wall displays cost less than a single LCD of a similar size and were easier for integrators to install.

If one panel burned out or failed, it was simple to switch it out. But the earliest LCD video wall solutions had an issue that could detract from the visual impact: bezels. Systems with larger bezel widths can work well in certain environments, like a control room where you want a distinct picture on each screen. 

Even a virtually seamless system with an ultra narrow bezel design is not completely bezel-less and, at certain viewing angles, those slim lines can create a distraction if the goal is a single, giant picture. For applications like image magnification, sports viewing, or for high-impact digital signage, you want a high resolution, seamless picture from any angle.

The Rise of Direct View LED Displays

If you’re looking for a solid picture for less money than a giant LCD, today you have another option that’s growing in popularity: Direct View LED Video Walls. A truly seamless, high brightness display solution, LED video walls use technology similar to what you see in outdoor venues like stadiums and sports arenas.

But the smaller pixel pitch on indoor direct view LEDs creates a high resolution image from a closer viewing distance, even in high ambient light. Learn more about the importance of the right pixel pitch for your direct view LED screen here.

LED vs. LCDs vs. OLED: Understanding the Technology

Without getting too deep into the technical aspects, LCD screens and direct view LEDs use completely different technology. A traditional LCD screen has an LED backlight to illuminate the individual crystals and create a coherent, high resolution picture. In a direct view LED, each light emitting diode gives off its own light.

There are other types of display technology on the market today, too, including OLEDs and QLEDs. We compare these video solutions in our Complete Guide to Direct View LEDs (DVLEDs).

LED vs. LCD: Which Is Better For Your Venue?

No doubt, traditional LCD screens still have a place in restaurant, retail and hospitality projects. If you want to create an environment where restaurant or sports bar guests can see every game from every seat, LCD displays from 50 to 75 inches can achieve that affordably.

But if you want big impact at a lower cost, with no bezels and a bright image in any viewing environment, a fine pixel pitch LED offers a surprisingly cost-effective solution. You also can’t compete with the wow factor of such a large image in a high traffic environment like a shopping mall or convention center. 

Big Names in NY and NJ Entertainment Rely on Our Video Designs

You’ll find our direct view LEDs across New York and New Jersey, in high profile venues like Big Snow, Dream Live, House of Que in the American Dream Mall, Top Golf, and the waterfront River Rock restaurant. Check out our portfolio to see more of our work and then call us for your customized quote and free consultation.